USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 38
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MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Levi W. Hart, E. Maynard, (f.)
THE CHURCH IN NEW CANAAN, ORG. JUNE 20, 1733.
John Eells,
June, 1733 June, 1741
Robert Silliman, * Feb. 1742 Aug. 1771 April, 1781
William Drummond, July, 1772 May, 1777
Justus Mitchell, t Jan. 1783
Feb. 1806
William Bonney, Feb. 1808 Aug. 1831
Theophilus Smith,# Aug. 1831
Aug. 1853
Frederick W. Williams, Feb. 1854 Dec. 1859
Ralph Smith, May, 1860
The Canaan Society, lying in Norwalk and Stamford, and occupying the same territory with the present town of New Canaan, was incorporated in 1731 ; the town in 1801. The church was formed with twenty-four mem- bers, thirteen from the Norwalk church, and eleven from Stamford ; in one hundred and twenty-six years, nine hundred and twenty-six persons have been received into the church. Mr. Silliman settled in Chester in 1772.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- James Richards, D. D., & Amzi Benedict, William Carter, William B. Weed, James S. Hoyt, Daniel Smith, Edwin Stevens. (f.) Darius Hoyt, (h.) David C. Comstock.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 666. Allen. + Cong. Y. Book, 2. 104. § Sp. An. 4. 99. Al- len.
THE CHURCH IN NEW FAIRFIELD, ORG. NOV. 9, 1742.
Benajah Case,
Nov. 1742 Jan. 1753
James Taylor,
Mar. 1758 June, 1764
56
434
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Davenport,
1769
Joseph Peck,
June, 1769
1775
- Mills,
1780
- Kittleton,
1782
Medad Rogers,*
1786
Oct.
1822
Aug. 1824
Abraham O. Stansbury,
Oct.
1824
Jan.
1827
Daniel Crocker,
Oct.
1827
Mar. 1831
George Coan,
June, 1833
May, 1835
Benajah Y. Morse,
Apr. 1835
Mar. 1838
David C. Perry,
Dec. 1838
Nov. 1844
Henry H. Morgan,
Dec. 1845
May, 1849
Lewis Pennell,
Oet.
1849
Oct.
1853
Aaron B. Peffers,
May, 1855
May, 1858
Frederick J. Jackson,
June, 1858
1859
Ezra D. Kinney,
1859
There was a noted revival of religion in 1818, by which the whole con- munity was moved, and there was an ingathering of one hundred or more to the kingdom of Christ. There was a meeting house in 1755, and the society built another in 1786. In 1836, the society removed the site of the house, by which some became disaffected and withdrew.
** Allen.
The First Church in New Hartford, Org. 1738.
Jonathan Marsh,
Oct. 1739
July, 1794
Edward D. Griffin, D. D .*
June, 1795
Aug. 1801
Nov. 1837
Amasa Jerome, t
Aug. 1802 Dec. 1813
Cyrus Yale, ¿
Oct. 1814
Dec. 1834
Cyrus Yale, # 1837 May, 1854
This church was greatly reduced in numbers by the formation of the South Church in 1848. Public worship was suspended after Mr. Yale's death, and it disbanded Oct. 1859. The location of the house, on a high bleak hill, also conspired to effect this result. There were extensive re- vivals, particularly under Dr. Griffin and Mr. Yale. In three different years, one hundred to one hundred and ten were added, and in four other years, 48 to 78. Ev. Mag. 1. 217, 265. Rel. Intel. 16. 702.
* Sp. An. 4. 26. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 109. Am. Qu. Reg. 13, 365. t Allen. Litchf. Centen. 118. # Sp. An. 2. 615.
1
THE NORTH CHURCH IN NEW HARTFORD, ORG. SEPT. 25, 1828.
Burr Baldwin, Jan. 1830
Feb. 1833
Willis Lord,
Oct. 1834
Dec. 1838
John Woodbridge, D. D.,
April, 1839
Jan. 1842
435
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Hiram Day,
1842
1844
Alexander Leadbetter,
May, 1844
May, 1849
Joseph A. Saxton, Jan. 1851 Oct. 1852
Franklin A. Spencer, Sept. 1853
This Church was originally a colony from the First Church of the town, and consisted of 62 members. Out of the thirty years since it was organ- ized, it has had only 23 years of pastoral labor. The remaining portion of time has been supplied temporarily by different persons.
There were limited revivals under the ministry of the first and fifth pas- tors. Mr. Day's ministry was attended with many conversions. There have been three refreshings from the presence of the Lord since the settle- ment of the present pastor.
In 1850 the church edifice underwent a very extensive and thorough repair, and is now one of the best in the County. It is lighted with gas.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- William Goodwin, (Bap.)
THE SOUTH CHURCH IN NEW HARTFORD, ORG. AUG. 8, 1848.
James C. Houghton,
Dec 1851 Feb. 1854
Edwin Hall, Jr. Dec. 1854
The South Church was formed from the First Church of New Hartford, whose house of worship is located on what is called Town Hill, nearly two miles north of the house of worship occupied by the South Society. The principal reason for the separation was the inconveniently long distance the people in the south part of the town were compelled to travel in order to at- tend public worship.
The Church has never been a very strong one, and has enjoyed few exten- sive revivals of religion, though it has not been without some seasons of re- freshing from on high.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEW HAVEN, ORG. AUG. 22, 1639.
Public worship had been maintained, and the word of God preached, un- der a provisional arrangement or " plantation covenant," from the landing of the first settlers, April 18, 1638. Rev. John Davenport, B. D. and Rev. Samuel Eaton, being the ministers.
John Davenport, * Pastor. Aug. 1639
1667
Mar. 1670
William Hooke, t Teacher,
1644
1656
Mar. 1678
Nicholas Street, t Teacher,
Nov. 1659
April, 1674
John Harriman, # Joseph Taylor,#
1674
1682
1674
April, 1682
.James Pierpont,§ Pastor,
July, 1684
Nov. 1714
Joseph Noyes, |
July, 1716
June, 1761
Chauncey Whittelsey, **
Mar. 1758
July, 1787
436
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
James Dana, ++ April, 1789
Nov. 1805
Aug. 1802
Moses Stuart, ## Mar. 1806
Jan. 1810
Jan. 1852
Nathaniel W. Taylor, D. D., §§ April, 1812
Dec. 1822
Mar. 1858
Leonard Bacon, D. D.,
Mar. 1825
Nathaniel H. Eggleston, HI Sept. 1850
1851
*Sp. An. 1, 93, 96 ; Allen ; Math. Mag. 1, 292. +Sp. An. 1, 104; Allen. # Neither were settled nor dismissed, but labored in the ministry of the word from 1674 to 1682. §Sp An. 1, 205; Allen. | Sp. An. 1, 362 ; Allen. ** Sp. An. 1, 414; Allen. ++ Sp. An. 1, 565; Allen. # Sp. An. 2, 475. §§ Memorial Discourses; Cong. Qr. 2, 245. | Mr. Eggleston had charge of the pulpit during Dr. Bacon's absence in Europe.
The first pastor and leading members of the Church came from the parish of St. Stephens, Coleman Street, London, to Boston, in 1637, arriving June 26. In April, 1638, they came to New Haven. The Church is the oldest institution in the New Haven colony. Its first connection in the support of public worship was with the town. East Haven, North Haven, and West Haven, having been successively established as parishes, the separate rec- ords of the First Ecclesiastical Society in New Haven begin on the first of July, 1715.
The Society has a permanent " ministerial fund " of about $15,000, partly the result of ancient donations and endowments, and partly the proceeds of a subscription made under the pastorate of Dr. Dana.
This Church has shared in the revivals which in successive ages have been granted to New England. In the pastorate of John Davenport, there appears to have been a special efficacy in the means of grace, as is evidenced by the number of the sons of this Church that entered the work of the min- istry at that period. An allusion to the multiplied conversions at that time is made in the Election Sermon of James Fitch, who could speak from his own recollection. In 1735, while Joseph Noyes was pastor, there was some special revival, forerunning "the great awakening" that came a few years later. In the conflict incidental to "the great awakening" of 1740, and subsequent to it, the Church was divided. The next marked revival was in the pastorate of Moses Stuart, in the year 1808. The years 1815, and 1820-21, in the pastorate of the late Dr. Taylor, were memorable as years of gracious visitation. Under the ministry of the present pastor, the years 1828, 1831, 1832, 1837, 1841 and 1858, have been the years most marked with blessing. Mem. of Nettleton, 81, 125-33, 159. Rel. Intel. 5, 668, 762 ; 6, 26.
Mr. Pierpont was one of three prime movers in founding Yale College, and a member of Saybrook Synod, 1708, pp. 7, 8.
In connection with this church there is a City-mission Chapel, built by subscription in 1858, and know as the Davenport Chapel. Public worship is regularly maintained there under the patronage of the First Church, the Rev. Edward E. Atwater being the minister in charge.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Michael Wigglesworth,* Samuel Cheever, t San- uel Street,¿ John Harriman, Thomas Cheever, § Noadiah Russell, John Day- enport, (Stamford,) Stephen Mix, Joseph Moss, Amos Munson, Samuel
437
History of the Churches.
Pierpont, John Hubbard, Samuel Munson, Stephen White, Benjamin Tal- madge, || John Noyes, " Jason Atwater, Achilles Mansfield, Sereno Edwards Dwight, D. D., Gardiner Spring, D. D., George Chandler, (h.) David L. Ogden, Charles C. Darling, Daniel D. Tappan, Seth Bliss, William Bush- nell, Jonathan Rowland, Abraham C. Baldwin, Joseph B. Stevens, John Mitchell, Oliver B. Bidwell, Jeremiah R. Barnes, (h.) Lyman II. Atwater, D. D., John C. Backus, Phineas Blakeman, (h.) Joseph D. Hull, Aldace Walker, William T. Bacon, John H. Pettingill, Alfred E. Ives, Alfred C. Raymond, John E. Chandler, (f.) James C. Moffatt, Charles A. Raymond, (Bapt.) Matthew Hale Smith, George B. Hubbard, (h.) Elisha W. Cook, Chauncey Goodrich, William H. Goodrich, William L. Kingsley, William A. Macy, James R. Mershon, (h.) Charles Henry Emerson, (h.) Kinsley Twining, Leonard W. Bacon, Edward Chester, (f.) Jonathan L. Jenkins, John H. Anketell. (Ep.) Edward Walker, George M. Smith, George B. Bacon.
" Sp. An. 1, 143. + Sp. An. 1, 253. # Sp. An. 1, 104. Allen. § Sp. An. 1, 244. Sp. An. 3, 35. TSp. An. 1. 363. Allen.
THE NORTH CHURCH, OR THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED SOCIETY, NEW HAVEN, ORG. MAY 7, 1742.
This Church, under the name of the Church of Christ in White Haven Society, was organized May 7, 1742.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED.
DIE!).
Samuel Bird, Oct. 1751 Jan. 1768 May, 1784
Jonathan Edwards, D. D.,* Jan. 1769
May, 1795 Aug. 1801
A Church was formed by secession from this, called The Church of Christ in the Fair Haven Society, June 20, 1771.
Allyn Mather, t Samuel Austin, D. D.,+ Nov. 1786 June, 1790 Dec. 1830
Feb. 1773 Nov. 1784
These Churches were united under the name of The Church of Christ in the United Societies of White Haven and Fair Haven, Nov. 27, 1796.
John Gammil, D. D., § Nov. 1798 Nov. 1801
Samuel Merwin, I Feb. 1805
Dec. 1831 Sept. 1856
Leicester A. Sawyer, June, 1835 Nov. 1837
Samuel W. S. Dutton, D. D., June, 1838
This Church was formed during " The Great Awakening," at the time of Whitfield's second visit to this country. The pastor of the first and only Church in New Haven, and a majority of the Church and Society, were op- posed to the revival and to Whitfield's preaching. Those who favored the revival, called "New Lights," seceded, and were formed into a Church, by some of the leading ministers of the "New Lights," convened in Council. viz : Rev. Messrs. Samuel Cook, John Graham, Elisha Kent, and Joseph Bellamy. Under the partial union of Church and State which then existed, oppressive laws were passed to embarrass and suppress them, and those like them ; the "Old Lights," being a majority, both in the State and in the Associations and Consociations. This Church could legally have no one to
438
History of the Churches.
preach to them, except by consent of the pastor and a majority of the parish of the First Church, which of course they could not obtain. Under this restriction, eminent and excellent men, like Rev. Dr. Finley, afterwards Pres- ident of Princeton College, were arrested and punished for preaching to this Church. Its members and adherents were taxed for the support of the First Church, besides sustaining the expense of their own religious services. This oppressive treatment continued for 15 years, until the New Lights became a majority in the town, and in the Ecclesiastical Society, from which they had never been released, and proceeded to vote the salary to the minister of the New Church : whereupon, on the petition of the " Old Lights," the Legisla- ture interposed, and divided the Society into two, according to elective affin- ity ; there being of the "Old Lights" 111, and of the "New Lights " 212. The new Society was called "The White Haven Society." One of the pro- fessed reasons for the original secession in 1742, was the adherence of the First Church and pastor to the Saybrook platform, which the New Lights insisted had never been adopted by the Church.
After about fifty years the two Churches became, and have ever since been, harmonious.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- They cannot now be mentioned except for the last half century, and those but partially. Frederick W. Hotchkiss, Jo- seph Mix, Thomas Punderson, Samuel Austin, D. D., T David A. Sherman, Prof. Eleazar T. Fitch, D. D., Prof. Chauncey A. Goodrich, D. D., ** Henry Herrick, (h.) O. E. Daggett, D. D., Edward O. Dunning, A. Hamilton Bishop, John D. Smith, William W. Woodworth, Samuel J. M. Merwin, Joseph Brewster, (Ep.) Andrew T. Pratt, William B. Clarke.
*Sp. An. 1, 653. Allen. Am. Qr. Reg. 8, 290. t Allen. # Mendon As. 156. Sp. An. 2. 21. Allen. § Allen. | Cong. Y. Book, 1857, 118. T Am. Qr. Reg. 9, 201. Sp. An. 2, 221. ** New Englander, 18, 328.
THE CHURCH IN YALE COLLEGE, NEW HAVEN, ORG. JUNE 30, 1757.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED,
Naphtali Daggett, D. D.,*
1755
1780
Samuel Wales, D. D., t
1782
1794
Timothy Dwight, D. D.
1805
1817
Eleazar Thompson Fitch, D. D.,
1817
1852
George Park Fisher, 1854
The existence of the College Church is due in part to the commotions which followed the great awakening of 1740; in particular, to a dissatisfac- tion on the part of the College government with the doctrinal views and the preaching of Rev. Mr. Noyes, the pastor of the First Church, where the stu- dents attended worship from the time of the removal of the College to New Haven. It was also believed by President Clapp, who had a leading part in the establishment of the Church, that the members of College would be more profited by preaching and pastoral service, which should be provided for them exclusively, and adapted to their peculiar character.
In 1746, the corporation voted to choose a Professor of Divinity, as soon as they could procure the means of support for him. This they were ena- bled to do by a gift from Hon. Philip Livingston, and by other donations.
439
History of the Churches.
Pres. Stiles,§ acted as College pastor for a time after the death of Prof. Daggett. The College Church has enjoyed great prosperity. Numerous revivals of religion have occurred, at short intervals since its formation, which have given to the Church a large number of devoted and able minis- ters, and to the State a large body of public men of enlightened Christian principle. The most remarkable of these revivals were those of 1802, 1831 and 1858. The number of members belonging to the College Church is larger at present than at any former time. See Prof. Fisher's Century Sermon, 1857.
* Sp. An. 1. 479. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 710. #Sp. An. 2. 152. Allen. § Sp. An. 1. 470. Allen. Sparks' Amer. Biog., Second Series, vol. 6.
THE THIRD CHURCH IN NEW HAVEN, ORG. SEPT. 6, 1826.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Nathaniel W. Taylor, D. D.,* 1826 1830 March, 1858
Charles A. Boardman, March, 1830 Sept. 1832
Elisha Lord Cleaveland, D. D., July, 1833
The Church has occupied three houses of worship ; the first on the cor- ner of Chapel and Union streets, from 1830 to 1838; the second in Court street, between State and Orange, from 1841 to 1856; and the third in Church street, fronting the public square.
Since Jan. 1st, 1856, the congregation has doubled its numbers ; one hun- dred and ninety-eight have been added to the Church, of whom ninety-seven were by profession. Seventy of these made profession since the great revi- val of 1858. The Church has enjoyed many seasons of refreshing from the Lord, but none so remarkable as that of the last year. Within the above named period of three years, the annual contribution to the cause of foreign missions has increased from $300 to about $1000.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Andrew Benton, (h.) Edward E. Atwater, Da- vid Breed, Charles H. Bullard, Joseph Rowell, (h.) Everet W. Bedinger, John C. Shackleford, (h.) Henry Powers.
* Cong. Y. Book, 6, 136.
THE TEMPLE ST. CHURCH, NEW HAVEN, (COLORED, ) ORG. SEPT. 1829.
Simeon S. Jocelyn,
1829
1834
David Dobie,
1835
1837
Amos G. Beman,
Sept. 1841
Jan. 1853
Hiram Bingham,
Mar. 1859
Jan. 1860
William T. Catto,
Jan. 1860
THE COLLEGE STREET CHURCH, ORG. AUG. 31, 1831.
Henry G. Ludlow,
May 1837 Mar. 1842
Edward Strong,
Dec. 1842
440
History of the Churches.
For two years the Church worshiped in the Orange Street Chapel ; three years in a large hall in the Exchange building ; and from September, 1836, in a house of worship erected for it in Church street. Here it remained struggling along with various success, sustained chiefly by the self-denying and extra- ordinary sacrifices of a few leading men. Its house of worship being found less convenient and pleasant than had been anticipated, it was sold in 1848, and its present commodious and beautiful sanctuary erected in College st. From the period of this last removal, the growth and general prosperity of the church have been uniform and comparatively rapid. For the first six years of its existence, it had no pastor, but had the ministrations, for periods of from three to six months, of Revs. Waters Warren, Samuel Griswold, James Boyle, Dexter Clary, Austin Putnam, John Ingersoll, and the late N. W. Taylor, D. D.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .-- Enoch Hewitt, (h. ) William W. Atwater, (h.) Wm. A. Thompson, Joseph Chandler, Joseph A. Prime, (h.) Henry Losch (h.) Da- rius Hoyt, (h.) Samuel W. Strong, HI. M. Colton, (h.) A. B. Hitchcock, (h.) Irem W. Smith, Glen Wood, (h.) James A. Brainerd.
THE HOWE STREET CHURCH IN NEW HAVEN, ORG. MARCH 14, 1838.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Leicester A. Sawyer,
July, 1838
Oct. 1840
Abraham C. Baldwin, Jan. 1842
June, 1845
William D. L. Love, Apr. 1848 Mar. 1852
S. Hale Higgins,
Mar. 1852 May , 1855
David H. Hamilton,
Mar. 1855
Jan. 1858
C. D. Murray, (lic.)
May, 1859
Edwin Dimock,
Jan. 1860
This church originated with the efforts of the City Missionary Society in parts of the city remote from other places of worship. Public worship was held for a few weeks in the Broadway School-house,-then for about four years in a carriage shop, fitted up for the purpose in Park street,-till a church edifice was opened in Howe street, in Jan. 1842. The church, though laboring under embarassments and discouragements, has ever been harmoni- ous and united. It has been much blessed with revivals,-there having been years at a time, when additions were made by profession at every com- munion season
THE CHAPEL STREET CHURCH IN NEW HANEN, ORG. NOV. 4, 1838.
V. W. Taylor, D. D., Nov. 1838 1839 Mar. 1858 John O. Colton,* Nov. 1839
Apr. 1840
Joseph P. Thompson, D. D., Oct. 1840
Mar. 1845
Leverett Griggs, Aug. 1845 Sept. 1847
William T. Eustis,
Mar. 1848
441
History of the Churches.
There were sixty-one members at the organization. The death of the first pastor, following so soon after his ordination, was a severe trial. Al- though the house of worship is somewhat removed from the dwellings of the citizens, yet the church and congregation have steadily grown, and have been compelled to enlarge their accommodations; having outlived the days of feeble infancy, and attained a position of strength and stability which may well compare with any of the city congregations.
The church has shared largely in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The years 1840, (while the Church had no pastor,) 1841, '42, '43, '49, '51, '55, and '58, have been specially marked for the manifestations of the Divine Pow- er in conversions ; and during the existence of the church, three hundred and sixty-four have been added to its membership on profession of their faith in Jesus Christ.
THE SOUTH CHURCH IN NEW HAVEN, ORG. NOV. 8, 1852.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Joseph U. Stiles, D. D., Nov. 1852 Nov. 1857
Gurdon W. Noyes, Apr. 1854
May, 1858
Gurdon W. Noyes, May, 1858
In 1850, Gerard Hallock, Esq., residing in the south-eastern part of the city, felt that accommodations for religious worship were needed in that vicinity -a Sabbath School being already in successful operation there. He, accor- dingly, in connection with one or two land-holders in the neighborhood, erected a large and convenient church and chapel, which were opened for use in the summer of 1852. There was no ecclesiastical society till the be- ginning of the year 1858; and then, Mr. Hallock, being the chief and almost entire owner of the church buildings, gave them up for the free use of the church, besides meeting most of the expenses, as he had done from the be- ginning. From this time the other members of the church have felt a deep- er interest than before, and raised more to sustain it, though never more than $700 annually. The members of the congregation are generally from the middling classes in society, and have but small worldly means at their command ; many of them being mechanics and operatives without families.
. The house of worship is three-quarters of a mile from any other of the Con- gregational denomination, and was much needed. There are now over two hundred members of the church, and there is a growing congregation, which may become, in time, pecuniarily strong.
The Wooster Place Church in New Haven, Org. Dec. 18, 1855.
Samuel H. Cox, D. D.
1855
J. G. Hamner, D. D. Nov. 1855 Oct. 1856
Owing to the pecuniary embarrassments of Mr. Jerome, at whose cost the church edifice was erected, it became necessary that the building should be 57
442
History of the Churches.
sold; and the society finding themselves unable to command the funds requi- site to purchase it-a contingency not thought of in the commencement of the enterprise-voted, Oct. 28, 1856, that it was expedient to discontinue public worship as a separate congregation, and the church was dissolved Oct. 1857, having had ninety-five members.
THE GERMAN MISSION, NEW HAVEN.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Christian Popp,
1851
J. E. Rau,
1855
C. F. Sleidel,
1855
C. G. Bentel,
1860
This mission, with an organized Moravian church, has been under the pat- ronage of the Connecticut Missionary Society. The congregation appears to promise well.
THE CHURCH IN NEWINGTON, IN WETHERSFIELD, ORG. OCT. 3, 1822.
Elisha Williams,*
Oct. 1722
1726 July, 1755
Simon Backus, t
Jan. 1725 1745
Joshua Belden,
Nov. 1747
July, 1813
Joab Brace, D. D.,
Jan. 1805
Samuel J. Andrews,
Mar. 1856
Jan. 1857
William P. Aikin, Jan. 1857
Newington was a branch of the Wethersfield Church. Mr. Williams re- signed, to accept the Presidency of Yale College. Mr. Backus went as chap- lain in the army to Cape Breton, where he died, -no doubt expecting to re- turn, as no record is made of his dismission. Dr. Brace resigned the active duties of the ministry at the close of his fiftieth year. It is worthy of note that the active pastorates of Mr. Belden and Dr. Brace covered a period of nearly 108 years. Among the revivals, one in 1820 was conducted by Dr. Nettleton, with marked and blessed results. Memoir, 137. Rel. Intel. 6. 793, 16. 445.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Simon Backus, Zadock Hunt, Silas Churchill, Martin K. Whittlesey, (h.) Edward Joab Brace, Seth C. Brace.
* Sp. An. 1. 281. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 231. Allen.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEW LONDON, ORG. 1650.
Richard Blinman,
1650
1659
Gershom Bulkley,*
1661
1666
Dec. 1713
Simon Bradstreet,
1670
1683
Gurdon Saltonstall,
Nov. 1691
Aug. 1707
443
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Eliphalet Adams, t
July, 1708
Oct. 1753
Mather Byles,# Nov. 1757 Apr. 1768
Ephraim Woodbridge,§
Oct. 1769
Sept. 1776
Henry Channing,
May, 1787
May, 1806
Abel McEwen, D. D.
Oct. 1806
Sept. 1860.
Thomas P. Field,
June, 1856
The records commence in 1670 ; members admitted under the several pas- torates since-58, 128, 410, 59, 23, 191 and 723, the last including four years. of Mr Field as colleague ; in all, 1592. Mr. Saltonstall left the ministry for civil life, and was for several years Governor of the State.
Repeated revivals of religion have occurred ; in 1807, over one hundred were added ; in other years, 60, 50 and 40 in a year. Ev. Mag. 9. 339. In 1835, the congregation having become inconveniently large, a colony was set off, now the large Second Church. Prior to 1806, this church was under. the ministry of a Unitarian pastor for seventeen years. But this ministry produced no Unitarianism in the church or congregation, which survived his dismission. Nothing but the remarkable interposition of Divine Providence prevented the most disastrous results. For some time under that ministry, religious meetings, except those on the Sabbath, and the preparatory lec- ture, were very unpopular. Evening services, especially, encountered much prejudice. Now, and for many years past, churches and people of all de- nominations here, hold many such meetings. The Sabbath is much better observed in this place now than it was fifty years ago, and family prayer and family religion, generally, are more prevalent now than in the prior period.
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